California Biographies
Source:
History of Napa and Lake Counties
San Francisco, Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1881
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
ANDREW ROCCA. This gentleman, whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, was born in
Italy, October 8, 1838. At the age of fifteen he came to California and located in Mariposa County,
where he engaged in mining for three years. He then went to Tuolumne County and followed mining
on the Tuolumne River for about one year. He then purchased a ditch which he conducted for about
six years, using the water in his own operations and selling it to others. He then disposed of his ditch
and returned to Mariposa County and purchased the celebrated Bower Cave Mine, where he mined
for fourteen months. Then, on account of poor health, he went to San Francisco, where he was
treated for about four months. While here he bought into the Golden Rock Water Company's ditch in
Tuolumne County, and returned to that county, where he remained for eight years. He then
proceeded to Shasta County and became interested in the Spring Creek Ditch Mining Company, and
remained there about sixteen months. While there in 1876 he was elected by the Directors as
Superintendent of the Great Western Quicksilver Mine, in Lake County, where he has since resided.
He is a thorough-going, practical miner, and is the right man for the position he holds. He was married,
April 14, 1880, to Miss Mary Thompson.